dhb Vaeon Roubaix Pro Bib Tights

The Vaeon Roubaix Pro tights are DHB's top end bibtights despite being just £79.99, a price where a lot of other manufacturers are only just breaking in to their mid-range. That's not to say the Vaeons aren't up there with the big boys when it comes to performance or quality though.

The fabric is called Lombardia, a fleece lined mid-compression material that's designed to trap warm air against your skin to keep you toasty in freezing conditions. There is a zipped abdominal section to keep your stomach and core warm which is all made out of the same material. In fact the only deviation from the Lombardia is a mesh panel over your back which is the one place you are likely to overheat.

Rides in temperatures down to -6°C were perfectly comfortable and even if you get wet the fleecy material keeps you warm until it dries out.

The moment you put the Vaeons on you can feel the compression benefits and the material has a solid, long lasting feel to it. The Pro fit from which they get their name is comfortable and supportive to your muscles. They're a tight fit but with enough give to get them on and off easily and for you to move around in the saddle without any sort of restriction.

The stitching is flatlocked and most of the material is on the outside of the bibs anyway so there's nothing to cause chafing or irritation when you're riding. At the ankles you get 6-inch zips and a silicone gripper to keep things in place.

The quality looks really good with tight stitching and plenty of attention to detail. I've got a standard pair of Vaeons in my wardrobe that must have done a good 10,000 miles over the last couple of years and are still showing very little in the way of wear.

Cytech provides the Elastic Interface Tour seatpad and it's a good 'un with plenty of comfort and no excess padding to bunch up. If you're in the saddle for four hours or more the firmness of the pad becomes even more relevant. The density of the foam means it barely compresses when you sit on it but over bumpy road surfaces it works more like a shock absorber rather than a cushion. After 100km you do get off the bike feeling slightly less 'abused' than with some other pads.

The white/black versions we've got here probably wouldn't be my first choice for winter miles as they do show up every tiny mark, though they do clean up well even on a 30°C wash. There is also a red/black version as well as plain black should you fancy something a little different.

One thing all three colours share is plenty of reflectives, a decent section on each thigh panel which offers good side visibility plus strips on each calf and all of the DHB logos. It's all enough to make you stand out in the dark without being over the top.

Overall the DHB Vaeon Roubaix Pros are top end bibtights that have a good enough fit and pad to be used for everything from early season races to long distance day rides. Plenty of upper body coverage and comfortable straps means they are a pleasure to wear all day in cold weather. The fabric wicks sweat away pretty well so they are also useable in warmer weather probably up to about 15°C.

Value for money is the big score here as they offer as good a fit and pad as other tights twice the price and judging by the quality of other long term testing of DHB kit, their pence per mile is going to be minimal.

Verdict

Brilliant performance and comfort for a very attractive price. Buy cheap, buy er, once.